Exponents are a topic in mathematics.

An exponent is something like 2² or 3⁵ or 10^x. You multiply the big number by itself the number of times shown in the small number (the exponent):

3⁵ = 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3

When you're reading an exponent out loud, you say:

"Two squared" (2²)

"Eight cubed" (8³)

"X to the Y power" (x^y)